The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-30
ISRAEL IN EGYPT.
EXPLANATORY NOTES az S. |. CUR
TlSS, PHI. o., D. o.,

lSeconu guartefl, Tor SuhuHy, Why u.
Text az the Lesson, Tx. !, 6-it-t!oi-
den Text, rs. CIV. -.
There is no attempt IN the Bible 10 RECORD
history for its own sake. Hundreds OF years
intervene between the events described in the
last chapters OF Genesis and those 10 which
We are introduced in the early chapters Of
Exodus lex. xii. i0l. While the story of those
years would bc interesting, rs would tho ac-
count Of what our Lord did before his en-
trance on his ministry, yet it would doubtless
he without significance for the history OF re-
denption
THE LESSON.
The Rapid Increase of the Israelites-In the
sikh verse the end OF tho history IN Genesis
is reproduced u a fitting introduction to
what is Ia follow. Joseph and all his brethren
and all that generation die. but ever increas-
ing multitudcs rise t. take their places,
V, T. The same language Is used here us In
the first chapters Of Genesis, where the au.
thor wishes to set forth the rapid increase of
animal life Gen l, 70; viii. III. They are
even spoken Of rs swarming, and 1t is said
that the land was illlei with them. The land
10 which allusion is made il none other than
the land Of Goshen. We learn from other
sources OF the wonderful increase Of the in
habitants of Egypt.
The New King ". Meanwhile the dynas-
" of shepherd kings, who, rs We have seen,
were of u. kindred race because Of their
Semitic origin, had come To an emil The
llykSos kings had been expelled from the
country. and n native Egyptian dynasty hal
taken their place, who did not know Joseph,
OF if they knew him In no regard for him or
hi, people We do not know who this new
king was, although il is pretty generally sup
posed that Ranlses | was the Pharaoh OF the
oppression.
VS. S, o. 1t could not have been absolutely
true that the lsraelites were more numerous
than tho Egyptians, FOR the Egyptians are
supposed to have numbered about ! 900 900,
and at later period tho lsraeltes could
hardly have numbered more than 2,OO,NO or
.3,O0JG0n. Suu the rapid increase OF a strong,
hardy race, who were probably much supe'
rior in physical strength TO the Egyptians,
must have been very alarming,
Zoan ". lU)rhe capital OF the king at
that time was in Zoan, or TaniS, IN the land
Of Goshen. This was chosen because it was
necessary, rs EbeiS says, for Ramses III to
stand with one foot III Egypt and the other
in Syria. He was therefore III the very midst
of the lSraeiites. Their rapid increase, there
fore, could not escape his observation OF the
danger arising therefrom. As We have re-
marked, Goshen was the northeast district Of
Egypt. 1t was therefore on tho high road to
tho land of the llit,ite', the Assyrians and
the other peoples of the east. RamScS III car
ricd on war for years with the llittites. II
he was the king, therefore, intended in this
chapter he could very readily see how the
lsraclites might form an alliance with the
enemy and easily escape from Egypt
The Store Cities IT, 1.-THE king therefore
sought to break the spirits of the people with
hard labor. The Egyptians Were th gr2atest
builders of antiquity. But their pyramids
ard temples, which excite tho wonder of men
to-day, were built with the forced labor of
their subjects. The king placed over the
lsraeites foreign tasknasteIS, who doubtless
beat them cruelty They were engaged in
building store cities, perhaps where provi-
sions for the campaigns in the east could bc
ored. An exploration society called THE
Egypt Exploration Fund" is making III.
teresting excavations in Egypt. 1t is
believed that the true site of PithOm has been
discovered. In it extensive storchouSes have
been found The true location Of Ranlses
still remains 10 bc found
Israel Kept Increasing ". l2l-All these
effort, to break down the spirit of the people
ami to diminish their numbers were 10 no
purpose The more the Egyptians oppressed
the Hebrews the more they increased, SO that
the Ely, tan, were distressed before them
vs.. -, H. The Egyptians, therefore, re-
newed their efforts. They mad, their ser
vice It's painful n possible, thus cmbittering
their lives, in the construction of buildings
and in their work in the fields All these OPP
pres,ions, however, ~ the result will show,
were of no avail for Israel was Coils cove
nant people Gen, XVII, :, etc.. His word
was to be fulfilled.
Israel Miracle of Hislory-Israel is in
deed n miracle of history No people on earth
has suffered such cruel wrongs, and no PEG.
pie to-day possesses greater physical force or
mental vitality. We may we'll believe that
Gods chosen people are yet to bear an i'm
portant part in the contamination Of re,iemp-
tive history
FONTS To NE REMEMBERED
/. The brightest pages Of the worlds his.
tory, according TO mans estimate, are Of no
account to God unless they have some bear-
ing on the advancement OF his kingdom
. When God has great work for his peo-
Pile he first tries them ia the furnace Of ulic.
ton.
> God remembers hi, covenant Sunday
School World